This latest offering from California’s literary lawyer, certainly stokes the passions of its readers. But then it would, wouldn’t it? A detailed exposé of an unpopular president during an election year coupled with a very unpopular war was bound to fire-up aggrieved Democrats and all those who are anti everything else. It would be churlish to suggest that that might have been its intention.
Mr Bugliosi is a man of many talents. He is an acclaimed and accomplished criminal layer with significant successes to his credit. He is a successful politician. He writes New York Times best sellers. But most of all, he has almost frightening singleness of purpose. Once he gets into something, he is like a dog with a bone.
All of these talents and character traits come together in ‘The Prosecution of George W Bush for Murder’, to very good effect.
Fundamentally, Bugliosi’s premise is that for reasons unknown (Bugliosi never offers a motive for the alleged offence), George Bush conspired with others to fabricate a justification for a shooting war with Iraq resulting in the unlawful killing of 4000 American soldiers.
The book is a courtroom drama. The first act is a summation to the jury. Bugliosi uses his best endeavours to prepare them (readers), for the evidence to come by destroying the President’s character. The second act provides the … who said what, and when did they say it, narrative. The final act rubbishes the Bush Administration generally, and those closest to the President in particular.
If you believe that all Republicans are pond-slime, and GWB is the slimiest of them all, you will enjoy these 352 pages. But if you are of a more balanced persuasion, you will be mindful of the fact that it is written by a rabid Democrat, with an unquenchable thirst for celebrity.
Regardless of the amusement value of the work, it is based on a false premise. The President took the country (and 32 other countries), to war, of that there can be no doubt. The question is not the effect, but the cause. Mr.Bugliosi does not know the reason why the President took the USA to war. And the President does not have to tell him or anyone else why he did what he did. And that is why an indictment for murder would fail. George Bush would only have to confirm his name to the court; every other question would inadmissible on the grounds of National Security. Mr.Bugliosi knows that perfectly well.
Bugliosi’s compilation of the evidence is strikingly impressive. His attention to detail deserves the cover price alone. But where he falls down, and I suggest looses his readers, is his uncontrollable need to insult everybody. He refers to Condoleezza Rice as a water-carrier. Bush and everyone working for him are ‘pusillanimous small men’. I shall spare the reader other, and more offensive invective. Once you start abusing the accused, your case is lost.
If you believe – as Vincent Bugliosi does, that George W. Bush is a heartless criminal who sacrifices American youth with reckless abandon, then this work should find a place on your shelf.
I will end by suggesting that you look at pictures of George Bush when he was elected, and look at him now. He has aged 25 years. After reading Bugliosi’s book, you might be astonished by this, as he informs us that ol’ George spends all his time on holiday having fun, and doesn’t give a thought to the misery of grieving parents – or anything else come to that.